A SEWAGE spill could have had a 'significant impact' on the environment, according to a letter from the Environment Agency. 

This publication has seen an email exchange between Environment Agency manager for Cumbria and Lancashire Jim Ratcliffe and the South Lakes MP Tim Farron. 

The email reveals that the Environment Agency completed an assessment of Cark Pumping Station after a suspected sewage incident into the River Eea on February 14 2023. 

In the email, Mr Ratcliffe says: "We have completed a permit compliance assessment of the pumping station using our nearby rain gauge, the photographs you and your constituents sent to us, as well as information our officers collected at the site."

The assessment found that the pumping station was spilling in dry weather in breach of its permit. 

Water companies such as United Utilities, which runs the facility in Cark, are legally allowed to spill sewage in times of exceptional rainfall to stop the system from flooding. 

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When there is a large amount of rainfall, the sewage is usually diluted to a point where there is "little visible impact." 

However, Mr Ratcliffe goes on to explain that this was not the case in Cark.

He said: "We also found the impact the pumping station was having on the environment during that spill event had the potential to be significant and we are considering what enforcement action is appropriate. 

"United Utilities are investigating the issue further as this spill was not typical of others at this location. Frequently spills at this location are diluted with groundwater to the extent that there is little visible impact.

"However, as the photographs you sent demonstrate, there have been periods when the spills cause considerable impact." 

Mr Ratcliffe said that the agency is prioritising resolving the non-complaint spills. 

This includes tankers pumping out sewage from the station and driving it to treatment works when there are events on at Cartmel racecourse. 

It also said that it considers groundwater entering the sewer as the root cause of the problem, and United Utilities will start working on re-lining two sections of the sewer to reduce groundwater infiltration in June 2023. 

The water company is also looking at how to lower the groundwater level as it is currently higher than the sewer depth. 

A United Utilities spokesman, said: “We are continuing to work with the Environment Agency to deliver on an action plan to tackle groundwater infiltration issues at Cark pumping station."